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NOOSA ironwoman Jordan Mercer has stuck her head out the other side of the most turbulent chapter of her young career thanks to the help of world beaters Mark Webber and Dawn Fraser.

Mercer leaned on the pair of family friends for advice after enduring a torrid couple of months.

The 19-year-old was back to her best when she finished third in round three of the Telstra Ironwoman Series at Portsea in Victoria on the weekend.

Mercer (pictured) went into 2012-13 with a load of expectation on her young shoulders after finishing fourth last season.

However, a demanding race schedule and mental battle in the lead-up took their toll and it showed in the opening two rounds in which she finished 15th and 17th.

She recently served a Surf Life Saving Australia race suspension but was subsequently cleared of any wrong doing.

AS MERCER battled to dig herself out of a psychological hole, she turned to a host of friends and family, including Formula 1 driver Webber and Olympic gold medallist Fraser.

But after an encouraging finish at Portsea, her coach and father Darren Mercer said their camp could see the sun breaking through the clouds thanks to their band of supporters.

"Mark has always been great in helping her out," Darren told The Daily yesterday.

"Whether it's just to have a conversation about racing, someone to talk to.

"Same with Dawn Fraser. It's been through their support that she has got that belief to get through.

"You saw it in her results on Sunday, just the elation when she crossed the line, you could tell she was back to form."

Darren said Jordan's decision to compete in the Mark Webber Tasmanian Challenge, a five-day 1000km adventure race which she won alongside surfer Sally Fitzgibbon, just three weeks out from the start of the Telstra Ironwoman Series, also contributed to her modest start to the season.

He said she had been slow to adjust from long to short distance racing. Jordan sat in 13th spot following round three and Darren said their aim was to finish the season inside the top 10 and gain automatic qualification for next season.

Following the Telstra Ironwoman Series, Jordan will travel to Peru for the ISA World Paddleboard and Stand Up Championships.